Continuous automatic shearing machine



June 30, 1931. F. H. sTRElNE 1,812,122

CONTINUOUS AUTOMATIC SHEARING MACHINE Filed Sept. '7. 1928 6Sheets-Sheet 1 ein June 3o, 1931. F H, STRENE' 1,812,122

CONTINUOUS AUTOMATIC SHEARING MACHINE Filed Sept. '7. 1928 6Sheets-Sheet 2 44d A TMm/5y CONTINUOUS AUTOMATIC SHEARING MACHINE FiledSept. '7. 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 g2 /N VENTO/el June 30, 1931. F. H.sTRl-:INE

CONTINUOUS AUTOMATC SHEARING MACHINE Filed sept. '7; 1928 e Sheets-sheet4 /NLENTOR MWLM BY 4MM 4M 44,- ATTORNEY June 30, 1931. F. H, STREINE v1,812,122

CONTINUOUS AUTOMATIC SHEARING MACHINE Filed sept. 7. 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet5 F. H. STREINE June 30, 1931.

SHEARING MACHINE CONTINUOUS AUTOMATIC 6 Sheets-Sheet 5` Filed Sept. 7.1928 DMN Patented June 30, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT i oFFicE FRANK H.STREINE, OF NEW BREMEN, OHIO, ASSIGNOR T0 THE STREINE TOOL ANDvMANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF NEW BREMEN, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIOCONTINUOUS AUTOMATIC SHEAIRING MACHINE Application led September Thisinvention` relates to new and useful improvements in continuous,automatic shear'- ing machines. O

It is the principal object of the invention to substantially reduce thelabor cost and materially increase production in sheet and tin platemills by the provision of a continuous, automatic shearing machine.Since it requires only two operators, this machine is capable ofhandling seven or eight packs a minute in a tin plate mill.

It is another object of the invention to provide endless hold-down meanssuch as caterpillar conveyors for flattening out the sheets before theyare presented to the side cutting shears, since the tin plate packs arenot flat but bowed. If they were not flattened out prior to the sideshearing operation, these sheets would have a ten ency to skid or camberand their side edges would not be straight. But when the sheets aremaintained vin correct alinement with the shearing` devices at all timesby the caterpillar hold-down conveyors, they will be sheared absolutelytrue by the cutting blades irrespective of the type of blades employed.

It is another object of the invention to provide indicator and adjustingmeans for positioning one side shear, which 1s laterally movable, atsuch a distance from the stationary shear that the pack will be trimmedby both shears to the desired width. These means enable the operator toadjust the side shears to within less than 1/64th of an inch.

It is another object of the invention to pro- -vide electrical meansthat are automatically operated to stop lthe conveyors and to trip theside shears so that the latter will ,trim

the side Vedges of the sheets while they are held flat by thecaterpillar conveyors.

Itis another object of the invention to provide an end cutting shearwhich receives the side trimmed sheets to cut oli' the curl or frontends of them. The sheets are automatically stopped for` 'this operationby an electric switch located on the shear bed, this switch controllingan adjustable timey relay to gauge the amount of curl which it isnecessary to trim olf.

The invention is designed to shear both- 7, 1928. Serial 110.3045526.

sheet packs and tin plate packs. The rough edges are not only taken offof the tin plate packs by the shearing machine, but it is designed tocut them into multiples. For

ly stops the conveyor at the point where it is desired toA cut off thesized multiples required. This operation is repeated until the entirepack .has passed through the end shear.

Vhile this pack is in the process of being cut into the desired sizes,another pack is presented to the side cutting shears, thus making forcontinuous, automatic shearing.

The continuous, automatic shears can be arranged for three purposes: forcutting packs of tin plate into multiples; for cutting packs of sheetsand for cutting flat sheets and plates of ferrous or non-ferrous inetal.

The invention may be embodied in machines that var'y in form and' instructure, and are designed and constructed for use in continuously andautomatically shearing sheets of different sizes of metal and of variedthickness, or packs of varied thickness.4 'lVhile the principal objectsof this invention are stated above, others will appear in the followingspecification describing the em- -bodiment of the" invention set forthin the ure 6 is a sectional View taken through one.

of the side shears on the line 66 of Figure 1, showing the caterpillarconveyor cutout switch. Figure 7 is a detail View of one of the shearsafety switches. Figure 8 is a is a detail vievsT of one of thesolenoids for .operating the various shear clutches.

Figure 11 is a detail view of the slow down limit switch for the endshear. Figure 12 is a detail view of the stop limit switch for the sameshear. Figure 13 is a detail view of the by-pass limit switch. AndFigure 14 is a schematic electrical diagram, in which View alternatingcurrent circuits are shown by dotted lines and direct current circuitsby full lines.

In the description, and also in the claims, I shall allude to the packsof sheets and plates broadly as sheets or metal sheets until I otherwisedlstinguish one from the other.

In the form of construction illustrated in the drawings, the sheets arefed from a suitable table, not shown, to the endless conveyors such asthose of the caterpillar type now to be described. There are four ofthese conveyor chains illustrated. They are disposed in pairs, one abovethe other, and extend from the front part of the machine topointsimmediately in front of an end shear to present the met-al sheets in aflattened state to the side shearing devices as well as to the endshear.Each caterpillar chain comprises a series of links 1, to which metalpads 2 are secured in such a manner that the pads on the lower chainwill co-act with the pads on the upper chain to exert sufficientpressure upon thev metal sheets introduced between them that the sheetswill be iattened out and held {irmly a ainst skidding or swerving to theright or to t e left.

The links 1 are pivotally connected by pins 3 to intermediate links 4.Mounted upon the pins 3 are rollers 5. The rollers on the lower chainvtravel upon rails 6, `While the rollers of the upper chain travel alongrails 7.

These rails, which are provided for the pur-v pose of holding theco-acting pads 2 1n a uniformly spaced relation, are shown as four innumber in the accompanying drawings.

The rails 6 and 7 on the right side of the machine are held in theirdesired spaced relation by bracket members 8 which are secured to thefixed shear housing 9, While theco-acting rails 6 and 7 on the left sideof the machme are secured in the same spaced relation' by bracketmembers 10 carried by the mova le shear housing 11. The upper bracketmembers 10 are each shaped like an inverted U in cross section, as shownin Figure 6, to receive a spring 10 for the purpose of placing theproper tension on the two Vtop rails A7 which are free to fioatin saidbracket members. This top rail and spring structure imparts to theconveyors their hold-down qualities.

Journaledin a bearing 12 secured to the front end of the fixed shearhousing 9 is one the fixed shear housing 9 an end of a shaft 13. Theother end of this shaft is slidably mounted in a bearing14 secured tothe front end of the adjustable shear housing 11.` Mounted on the shaft13`ar'e two sprocket Wheels 15, 15 which receive the top caterpillarconveyor chains 16, 16. The lower caterpillar conveyor chains 17, 17 atthe receiving end of the machine travel over sprocket Wheels 18, 18 thatare mounted onla sprocket shaft 19. One end of this shaft is journaledin a bearing 2O secured to the xed shear housing 9, While its other end21 isv slidably mounted in a bearing 22 secured to the front end of theadjustable shear housing 1l.

In order to vary the horizontal distance between the cater illar chainsto accommodate sheets of di erent widths, the sprocket wheels 15 and 18on the left side of the machine are free to be moved along the shafts 13and 19 with the adjustable shear housing 11. The latter housing andthese sprocket wheels are connected in the following way for thispurpose. Formed in the hub of each one of the last namedsprocket wheelsisan annular groove 23 which receives a forked rod 24 attached to thehousing 11. Therefore, when the housing 11 is moved laterally, it willcause the sprocket wheels 15 and 18 on its side of the machine to beshifted with it along the shafts 13 and 19. (See Figures 2 and 3.)

At the delivery end of the machine the upper caterpillar conveyor chains16, 16 pass around sprocket wheels 25, 25 and sprocket wheels 26, 26below and to the rear of them. The sprocket wheels 25, 25 are mounted ona shaft 27 journaled in a bearin 28 secured to slidable in a bearing 29secured to the movable shear housing 11. The sprocket wheels 26, 26 arekeyed to a shaft 30 journaled in a bearing 31 secured to the fixedhousin 9 and slidable in a bearing 32'se'cured to t e movable shearhousing 11.

Thesprockets25 and 26 belonging to the movable shear housing 11 havetheir hubs formed with grooves 33 sol that they may be shifted with italong their-respective shafts by forked rods similar to the rodsl 24, at

and the movable housing 11 ina similar manner to the shaft 30. Thesprockets 35, 35 are mounted on a shaft 37 in front ofthe shaft 36directly below the shaft 27; and like. the latter, are supported by thefixed housing 9 and the movable housing 11.

The sprockets 34 and 35 belonging to the movable shear housing 11, areadjustable on F' theshafts 36 and 37 like the sprockets 26 and 25 abovethem are upon their shafts, in order to preserve the proper horizontaldistance between the conveyor chains of the machine.

i1 On opposite sides of the caterpillar con- -veyor chains 16 and 17 arelocated, face to face, gate shearing devices of a type well known in theart. Preferably, the shears of the shearing devices are so located thatthey vwill cut from the leading end and at the same rate beginning atthe same instant to prevent creeping or twisting of the metal.

The shear housing 11 may be moved toward or away from the shear housing9 for I the purpose of adjusting said devices with respect to each otherto properly trim the metal sheet presented to their shearing blades. Theadjusting means which are employed for the shearing device 11, comprisescrews 38 that will draw it over the base rails 39.

The shear housing 11 is carried by adjustable shoes 40 that travel uponthe base rails 39. Eachl shoe has an upturned end 41 formed with holesthrough which adjusting screws 42 engage the outer ends of the housingsides. These sides are formed with base flanges 43 having slots toreceive vertical adjusting screws 44 for engagement with the .shoes tohold them in an adjusted position with respect to said housing. (SeeFigures 1 and 2.)

The shoes 40 are properly guided in their travel over the base rails 39by flange projections 45 carrying adjusting screws 46.

The base rails 39, 39 are formed with grooves as shown in Figure 3 topermit the travel therein of projections 40a on the shoes 40. Throughthreaded holes in these projections the screws 38 pass for the purposeof shifting the shear housing 11 upon the rails when the screws arerotated by means now to be described. These screws 38 project beyond thebase rails on the fixed shear side of 'the device for a spiral gearconnection (not shown) with a sectional main shaft 48. This shaft, whichis journaled in suitable bearings (not shown) secured to the base rails39, is driven by a reversible electric motor 50.

. I( See Figure 1.) In order to compensate for any misalinernent of theshaft 48, its sections are connected by flexible couplings 51.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the reversible motormay be operated to adjust the shear housing 11 with respect to thefixed-shear housing 9 to vary the horizontal distance between thecaterpillar chains to accommodate sheets of different widths. When thisadjustment has been made, the movable shearing device 11 may be firmlyheld in its adjusted position through the engagement of the screws 46with the sides of the base rails 39. (See Figures 1 -and 3.)

The proper adjustment of the shearing dev ice 11 with regard to thefixed shearing device 9 is indicated to the operator by the followingmeans. Secured to the fixed shear housing 9 is one end of a scale 52.The other y end of this scale projects through an indicating member 53secured to the movable shear housing 11. The registry of a predeterminedgraduation on the scale 52 with the fixed indicating member 53, willreveal to the operator that the shearing device 11 has been t shifted tothe proper position to conform the shearing blades to the width of thesheet to be trimmed. (See Figure 2.)

'The caterpillar conveyor chains are driven by an electric motor 54through the agency of the following power transmission mechanism. Themotor 54, which is mounted on a 'sub base 55, has an armature shaft 56.(See by the shaft 36 through the engagement of 1,

a gear on the latter .with a gear 61 on the shaft 30. (See Figures 1 and5.)

The electric switch mechanism for controlling the motor 54 to start andstop the movement of the caterpillar chains will be hereinafterdescribed. l

The shearing devices 9 and 11 are operated by the following means.Referring to Figure 1, an electric driving motor 62 is mounted on amotor plate 63 secured to the movable shear housing 11. This motor 62has an armature shaft 64 to which there is secured a pinion 65. Thelatter meshes with a gear 66 fast on a shaft 67 journaled in bearings inthe movable housing 11.

Also fast on the shaft 67 is a gear 68 which 'i is engaged with a gear69 mounted on a shaft 70 journaled in bearings secured to the movablehousing 11. Fast on the outer end of the shaft 70 is a pinion 71 thatmeshes with a gear 72 which, through an electrically operated clutchhereinafter referred to, drives eccentric shaft 73 jo-urnaled inbearings 74 secured to said housing. Mounted on the eccentric shaft 73are eccentrics 7 5 which, through followers 76, are connected in a wellknown manner to a counter-'balanced gate shear 77 which works inconjunction with a fixed blade 78 supported by the movable shear housing11. (See Figures 1 and 3.)

The gate shear 79 in the fixed housing 9 is operated in the same mannerby an eccentric shaft 80 journaled in bearings in said housing. Mountedon the eccentric shaft 8O is a gear 81 which, through the medium of an'electrically operated clutch to be hereinafter referred to, controls theshear 79. The' gear 81 meshes with a pinion 82 secured to anintermediate shaft 83 journaled in bearings in said housing 9. Fast onthe intermediate shaft 83 is al'gear 84 which meshes with a pinion 85secured to a shaft 86 also journaled in bearings in the fixed shearhousing. Secured to the shaft 86 is a gear 87 which meshes with a pinion88 attached to the armature shaft 89 of an electric motor 90 mounted ona motor plate 91 secured to the fixed shear housing 9. (See Figures 1and 2.)

After the sheets have been conveyed into the machine by the caterpillarchains, and the latter are stopped, the sheets will be firmly held intheir flattened state by these chains against wobbling or turning duringthe cutting operation.

A description of the electrical means for operating the caterpillarchains and the side shearing devices will be postponed to a descriptionof the end shear, since the vmeans for operating it are intimatelyrelated to those for operating the endless conveyors and the sideshears.

The caterpillar chains 16 and 17 convey the side trimmed sheets to thisend shear for the purpose of cutting off their front ends and thereaftercutting them into multiples. Referring to Figures 3, 4 and 5, thenumeral 108 designates the end shear base which is bolted at its frontend to the rear base rail 39 for the side shearing devices. Bolted tothe base 108 are two standards 109, 109 which support at their upperends a cross head 110. Journaled in bearings 111, 111 bolted to thestandards 109, 109 respectively, is an eccentric shaft 112 for operatingthe movable end shear blade and the stop bar, to be hereinafterdescribed.

The endless belt conveyors which receive the side trimmed sheets fromthe side shears will first be described. Journaled in adjustablebea-rings 113 secured tothe .standards 109, 109 are two transverseshafts 114 and 115. Secured to the shafts 114 and 115 is a series ofsprockets 116 over which pass endless conveyors such as the link belts117. (See Figures i, 3, 4ans 5.)

Directly below the two shafts 114 and 115 are two similar shafts 118 and119 journaled in bearings secured to the standards 109, 109. Midwaybetween and a short distance below the shafts 118 and 119 is a shaft 120journaled in bearings-secured to said standards. Journaled in bearingscarried by brackets 121, 121 secured to and projecting rearwardly fromthe standards 109, 109 is a shaft 122 similar to the shafts 118, 119Aand 120. (See Figures 1, 3, 4 and 5.)

Secured lto the shafts 118, 119, 120 and 122 are alined sprockets 123around which paw endless conveyors such as the link belts 124 whichcoi-act with the belts 117 to receive the v tional drive side trimmedsheets from the side shears and convey them through the end shear.

For the purpose of cutting ofi the curl or front ends of the sidetrimmed sheets and for thereafter cutting them into multiples, there issecured to a cutter bar 125 attached to the standards 109, 109, anadjustable lower shear blade 126. (See Figures 3 and 5.) Adapted toco-act with this blade 126 is a blade 127 secured to a verticallymovable' cutter bar 128 above the cutter bar 125. To the cutter bar 128there are pivotally secured follower arms 129 which are operated byeccentrics 130 on the shaft 112. (See Figures 1, 3, 4 and 5.)

The eccentric shaft 112 is driven 'by an electric motor 131 through thefollowing means, to reciprocate the end shear blade 127. Connected tothe armature shaft 132 of the motor 131, which is supported on a motorplate 133 attached to the right standard 109, is a pinion 134. Thispinion meshes with a gear 135 fast on a sha-ft 136 journaled in bearingssecured to both standards 109, 109. On the same end of this shaft 136 asthe gear 135, there is mounted a fly wheel 137. On the other end of theshaft 136 there is mounted a pinion 138 which meshes with a gear 139 onthe eccentric shaft 112.

For the purpose of rotating the endless link belts 117 and 124, there ismounted on the shaft 36 a sprocket 140 around which passes an endlesschain 140 that also travels over a sprocket 141 fast on the shaft 118.(See Figure 5.) A ear connection is the convenetween the shafts 118 andthe shaft 114 to rotate the endless link belts 117, or any other form ofendless conveyors employed.

The co-actinp endless link belts 117 and 124 are adapted to bring theside trimmed sheet to the following adjustable stop means to permit theend shear blades 126 and 127 to cut from the sheet a multiple of thedesired dimansions.

' The end shear conveyors 117 and 124 at all times coact to hold theside trimmed sheet in a correct position for shearing by the end shear;in other words, it will so hold the sheet that the end cuts will be incorrect relation to the side cuts.

Referring to Figure 3, the numeral 142 designates a stop bar which isvertically movable in a slot in a reinforced cross slide 143 which isfree to travel back and forth'on rods 144 secured to brackets 145attached to the standards 109, 109. The cross slide 143 is formed withholes through which these rods ass, and along which the slide is adjustale by means of screws 146, 146. (See Figures 3 and 4.) The screws 146,146 pass through threaded ears 147, 147 on the cross slide 143, and onthe rear ends of these screws are worm gears 148, 148 that mesh withworms 149, 149 on a shaft 150. This shaft is journaled in bearingssecured to the standcut b Vthe end shear so that it will fa 1l"upon 5elevated bymeans. soon to be described into the path of a sheets.

There project downwardly :from the stop bar 142, arms 152 which arepivotally oonnected at their lower ends to rocker arms 153, 153. Theserocker arms 153 are keyed n to shafts 154, 154 journaled in bracketswhich rearwardly traveling sheet or make themyl parallel with the rods144, 144.-

Along these shafts 154 the rocker arrns 153 are free to be drawn by thecross slide 143.

, The shafts 154, 154 are rocked-by the eccentric shaft 112 through thefollowing means so that when the IAAconveyors start, the stop bar 142will also start to rise, not only to stop lthe next sheet but to elevatethe one already the s eet' previously cut by said shear.

Tp each shaft 154, near its outer end, there is connected a rocker arm155 which is pivotally connected at its outer-end to a vertical rod 156.At'its upper end this rod is pivotally connected to one end of an arm157 fast on a shaft 158 journaled in bearings secured)to the standards109, 109.V (See Figure 4.

Also secured to the shaft 158 is an arm 159 pivotally secured yat itsupper end to a thrust member 160. The latter terminates at its inner endina yoke 161 which straddles the eccentric shaft 112 to act as a guidefor the reciprocal movement'of the thrust member. To the front end ofthe yoke there is secured a curved cap piece 162 to limit the outwardmovementof the thrust member. (See Figures 3 andf4.)

Y Thethrust member 160 is formed at the inner end of its yoke portionwith a groove to receivea roller 163 mounted on apin 164 secured withinsaid groove. This roller is ,adapted be en aged by an eccentric cam 165fast on Ytheslgnaft 112, so that when the latter is rotated, the thrustmember 160 will be forced outwardly bythe cam to elevate the stop bar142through the mechanism just deyscr1bed. y f

The electrically actuated clutches which connect the shears 77, 79 and127 to their various vsources of power are one revolution clutches.

" The'op'erationof the complete machine will now be described inconnection- ",wi'th the schematic electrical diagram shownl in Figure14. The sheet and tin plate acks are fed from a table, notl shown, to te caterpillar 00 chains 16 and 17Efatfth receiving end of the machine.lThesechains 16 and 17;flatt'en out the'bowed packs and convey them inarigid manner, tothe1 slide'V shea'iffblades.

The diagram-in FigureS 14 shows the po- 0 5 sition of all switches, withthe caterpillar cona wire 1701?.

veyor chains stopped and the pack ready to start through. To start theconveyor motor 54, a push button 166, located at anyconvenient place, isdepressed, whereupon the pack y' is conveyed by the caterpillar chainsin a flattened and rigid manner to a proper position for shearing.-

. Mounted on the movable cutter bar 77 near the lever 167, it will closea circuit now to be described -to energize a solenoid limit switch 170.This circuit is defined by coil 170'* which is connected to the switch167 by The switch 167 is 4connected by a wire 170' to the'positive vsideofthe line. The other side of the coil '170g-is connected by -Wire 170"to the negative side off-the line.'

. The contacts 171 of the switch 170 will then y v bevseparat'ed by thesolenoid 170a of switch y170 to open the push button circuitwhichcontrols the motor 54, to stopv lthe Vconveyor chains.- The push buttoncircuit .is defined by a wire 166a that leads Vfrom the push button 166to the positive side 166b of the D. C. line. A line 166c leads from thepush button 166 to the coil 166". The coil 166l is connected by a wire166 to a safety switch 177. A wire 166t runs from the safety switch 177to the contacts 171, 171.I From the latter a wire 166g leadsl to thecontactor 186. A wire 166h runs from the contactor 186 tothe safetyswitch 187. The latter is connected by a wire 166 to a contact 210. Froma companion contact 210a a wire 166runs to the negative side 166k of theD. C..lin e, thus completing the push button circuit.

The lnotor Pcircuit is defined as follows. The numerals 54a and 54bdesignate in Figure 14 two contacts. rlhe contact 54a is connected by awire 54c with the negative side 166k of the D. C. line. The contact 54his connected by a wire 54 to a coil 54t and a The other side of thecoils 54 and 548 are connected to a contact 54h b'y a wire 54. Acompanion contact 54j is connected by a wire 54k to the push buttonvswitch 166' which is connected by a wire 54l to the positive side 166bof the D. C. line. This completes the circuit which closes thecontactors 54t and 54g to start the motor 54, which is itself includedin the following circuit.

The armature of the motor 54 is connectedl solenoid 170l of this switchtovopeu the D. C.

- contactors 54 and 54S which will open the .motor circuit. At the sametime the solenoid 216 will be de-energized through the same contactors Mand 54Sy to act as a dynamic brake to completely stop the motor 54 andthereby bring the conveyor chains to a full stop.

When the solenoid 17 0*l of the switch 170 is operated to open thecontacts 171, 171, it will elect an engagement between the contacts 172,172 to close the following electric circuit which energizes solenoids172, 172 that i (The dotted lines define the A. C. circuits.) The othercontact 172 is connected by a wire 172 to the coil 172". The other side'of the coil 172l is hooked to the A. C. line Lz by av wire 172. The twosolenoids-172, 17 2a are .hooked directly to the A. C. line L1 by a wire17 2'. The other side of the solenoids are conlnected to the A. C. lineL2 by a wire 172g through the two contacts 172h and 17 2. One latch trip173 is for the release of the cutter bar 77 and the other latch trip isfor the rei lease of the cutter bar 79 through the medium of aconventional shear clutch (not shown). This clutch is. operated by thelatch trip mechanism through a link 174 secured at one end to a solenoidplunger 173l and at its other end to an arm 175 which is pivoted to thecutter bar.

Referringto Figure 10, when the solenoid of the latchtrip mechanism 173is energized, the arm 175. will be drawn into the path of movement ofthe rotating dog 176 of the shear clutch to cause vthe continuouslyrotating gear 72 to turn the eccentricl shaft 73 to, depress the movableblade to trim the rough edges from the sheet.

The latch trip mechanism 173 for the gear 8O will cause the cutter bar79`to descend in the same manner to trim the rough edges from the otherside of the pack.

The side shear safety switches will now be described. Referring-toFigures 1, 7 and 14, there is secured to each shear housing a safetyswitch 17 7 operated by a switch lever arm 178y carrying on its free enda roller` 179. The latter is positioned to be engaged by a cam member180 'attached to a fiat supporting piece 181 adjustably secured to arespective cutter bar-in Fiv'ure 7 the cutter bar 77.

lil)

When the. blade dnescends, Athe cam member v180y will engage the roller179 to open the D. C. switch 177. This switch l177 being in circuitwith. the caterpillar chain motor circuit, will open the latter toprevent the movement of the caterpillar chains through the .accidentalclosing of the caterpillar conveyor motor'circuit in any way while theside shears are 1n operatlon.

v1,812,1sa

switches 177 have again been closed. vThese will be closed to completethe circuit through the conveyor motor 54 only when the side shears arereturned to their uppermost positions. When they reach these positions,.the cam member 180 will have cleared the rollers the caterpillar 179,whereupon the switches 177 will be automatically closed and the circuitwill be completed through the motor'54 to the conveyor chains.

The packfis then moved towardthe end shear by the caterpillar, chains 16and 17. At

a predetermined point in its travel Atoward again start A this shear,the pack will hit the lever 181 of a switch 182 which closes a circuitthat operates a D. C. solenoid 181b of a D. C. operated time relayswitch.l (See Figures 9 and 14.) One side of the switch 181 is connectedto the positive side 166b of the D. C. line a wire 181. connectedy toone side of the time relay coil 181b of the time relay switch by a wire181. The other side of the coil 181 isconnected to the negative side166* ofthe D.- C. line byv `through a latch trip mechanismsimilar'to'thel' latch trip mechanism 173. (See: Figure 14.)

The other side of the switch '181 isy The contacts 1850i the time relayswitch apply a positive potential tov ay contaeter 186 on: the D.. C?.pa'fxeliv through. wiresv 186# and 186" at. the same time; the contacts-184e are closed.

On the down stroke of the end shear bladel 127, a limit switch 187 opensto keep the conveyor stopped.. This switch is simiflar switch 17 9.

The operation of this. end shear also closes by-pass limit switches 188and 189 located in the same casing. (See Figure 13.)- ,Referring to thisfigure, there isv secured: to the cutter bar which:- carries the blade127 a cam' member 190 lwhich is adapted. to engage: a roller 191 on anarm 192l of the by-pass limit switches to close them on` the downstrokeof' they end shear blade.. Upon its downstroke, the end shearblade" 127, acting in conjunction with the fixed bladev 126, willcut-off the leading or curl end of the pack while the conveyor isstopped. l

The b -pass switch 188 applies a negative potentia to the contactor 1861on the D. C.

` down the conveyor.

'panel through wires 188'L and 188D, which remains closed through itsown contacts and by-passes the contacts 183 of the time relay, allowingthe conveyor to be operated by the end shear through the limit switch187.

The limit switch 189 closes the switch 193 on the A. C. panel, whichholds itself closed through its own contacts and opens the followingcircuit to the end shear solenoid 194 through the time limit relayswitch contacts 184. designates a switch which is connected to one sideofthe A. C. line L1 by wires 193b and 193. The other side of the coil193 is con-Y nected to the A. C. line L2 by a wire 193d.

One of the switch contacts 184 is connected to the A. C. line L1 by awire 184 and the other contact 184 is connected to a contact 184b on theswitch193. One side of the coil of the switch 193b isconnected to the A.C. line L2 byV a wire 184. The other sidefof vthe coil of the switch 193is connectedto one.`

side of the switch 189 by a wire 1841. The other side of the switch 189is connected to the A. C. line L1 by a wire 184.

On the upstroke of the end shearblade 127, the safety switch 187 isclosed, starting the conveyor, and as the pack strikes a slow down limitswitch 195, a resistance 196 is dropped in series with theconveyor motor54 and an armature shunt 197 applied to slow The pack then strikes theswitch 198, which stops the conveyor and releases the end shear.

The slow down limit switch 195, which is shown in detail in Figure 11,Vis carried by the adjustable stop bar-142y to which itis secured in thefollowing manner. lReferring to said figure, the numeral 199 designatesa bracket member whose upper end is secured to the stop bar 142 andwhose lower end projects below the latter. 'v Secured to the lower endof this bracket member is an insulated frame 200 carrying a contact 201.The latter is adapted to be engaged by a contact arm 202 resilientlysecured to the lower end of a. belll crank lever 203 that is pivoted toan arm 204 of the bracket member. To the other end of the bell cranklever 203, which projects forwardly through a recess in the stop bar142, there is secured a cam member 205 that is adapted to ,be engaged bythe pack to close the switch 195 as shown by the full lines in Figure11. (See Figures 4 and 11.) f To the adjustable bar 142, there is alsosecured the stop limit switch 198. In Figure 12, where this switch isshown in detail, the numeral 207 designates a bracket member to whoselower end an insulated frame 208 is attached. Secured in this frame aretwo oppositely disposed contacts 209 and 210 adapted to be engaged bytwo contact arms 211 and 212 respectively. These arms are secured to thelower end of a bell crank lever`213 pivoted to an arm 214 on the bracketmember 207.

(See Figure 14.) The numeral 193 Pivoted to the other end of thebellcrank lever 213 is a stop block 215 adapted tobe en aged by theleading end of the pack.

en so engaged it withdraws the contact arm 212 from engagement with thecontact 210 to break the circuit includingthe conveyor motor 54to stopthe latter. At the same time the contact arm 211 will be forced intoengagement by the bell crank lever 214, with the contact 209 to closethe circuit which includes the tripping mechanism for the end shear,thus causing the blade 127 of the latter to descend.

When the stop limit switch 198 breaks the Vcircuit through the motorv54, a conventional magnetic brake 216 onthe armature shaft 56 will stopthe latter with sullicient drift to bring the pack up against the stopbar 142. When the pack strikes the adjustable stop ,bar142, it is inproper position to be cut by `the end shear blade 127 which is nowreleased by the limit switch 198 just described. A section of a widthdetermined by the position of the adjustable stop bar 142, will then becut from the pack by the descent of the end shear blade. After thisoccurs, the limit.

switches 195 and198 will drop with the stop bar 142 below the line ofthe pack and reset, allowing the conveyor to start. The section of thepack now cut olf, moves over the top end of the stop bar 142 which,being elevated, by the means hereinbefore described, kicks said severedportion up to clear the limit switches as they come in line for the nextend of the pack.

The conveyor and end shear are noW operated entirely by the limitswitches 195 and 198 until vthe tail end of the pack allows the limitswitches 183, 184 and 185 to reset, which will stop the end shear untilthe next pack arrives.

From the above description it will be observed 'that the caterpillarconveyorsfirstv receive the packs lengthwise, curl end first, and conveythem in a flattened and rigid manner to the side cutting shears, whenthe conveyors automatically stop. In maintaining the. moving packs incorrect alinement with the cutting devices at all times, the endlessliold-down conveyors are a most important feature of the machine, aswellas for use generally in conveying sheet material from one point toanother.

While gate shears are illustrated and described for vtrimming theside'and end edges of the pack and for cutting it into multiples, rotaryshears or any other type of shears maybe employed in conjunction withthe caterpillar conveyors for these purposes.

When both sides of the pack have been trimmed to the desired width, theconveyor` again starts, carrying the pack to the end shear, which cutsolf its curl or front end. After its leading or curl end is severed, thepack is carried by the endless conveyor of the end shear to theadjustable stop bar. Here 'a slow down switchand a stop limit switchslow down and stop the conveyor, causing the end cutting shear to cutyofi" any sized multiples desired. This operation is repeated until theentire pack has passed through.

While the principal object 'of the invention is to provide for Vmoreaccuracy and reliability in the quality of shearing, it is also notab ethat a very great saving in the `cost of operation is accomplished.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In an automatic machine for shearing metal sheets, shearing devicesfor trimming .the side edges from said sheets, 'and caterpillarhold-down conveyors in .parallelism with said shearing devices tolongitudinally engage the sheets along their side edges to maintain themin correct alinement with the.

shearing devices at all times.

2. In an automatic machine for shearing metal sheets, gate shearingdevices for trimming the side ed es from said sheets,l andcaterpillarholdown conveyors in parallelism withfsaid gate shearing devices tolongitudinally engage the sheets along their sides edges to maintainthem in correct alinement with the shearing devices. at all times.

3.` In a continuous, automatic machine for shearing metal sheets,shearing devices for trimming the side edges of said sheets, caterpillarconveyor chains, and co-acting pressure pads secured to said chains toengage bowed metal sheets along their side edges and to resent them in aflattened state to the shearmg devices.

4. In a continuous, automatic machine for shearing metal sheets, a pairof shearing devices for trimming the side edges of a metal sheet, an endshearing device for trimming the front end of the sheet, and co-actingcaterpillar conveyors for engaging the lmetal sheets longitudinallyalong their side ed es and for resenting the sheets first to the si eshearing evices in correct alinement with them, and then to the endshearing device.

5. In a continuous,automatic machine for shearing metal sheets, a pairof shearing1 devices for trimming the side edges of a s eet, an endshearin device for trimming the leading end of a s eet, and co-actingcaterpillar l conveyors for engaging bowed or dished 7 In a device fortrimming the ends of metal sheets and for cutting them into multiples,an end shear, means for conveying a metal sheet to the end shear, amotor for' operating said shear, and an adjustable de vlce adapted to bemoved upwardly .for engagement by the metal sheet to stop the con-yveymg means and to initiatethe yoperation of the end shear by said motorfor the purpose specified. l

8. In a devicfor trimming the ends of metal sheets and -for cutting theminto multiples, a motor-operated end shear, motoroperated means forconveying a metal sheet y to the end shear, an ad'ustable switch, and astop member upwardly movable into the path of rearward movement of saidsheet for engagement thereby to actuate the switch and through lit tostopthe conveying means and to initiate the operation of the end shearlby said motor for the purpose specified.

9. In adevice for trimmin the ends of metal sheets and for cutting t eminto mulveying the' sheets through it, an end shear,

a pair of rearwardly projecting guide rods behind said shear, avertically adjustable stop member free tomovel along said rods, screwsvfor moving said sto member toward and away from the end s ear, anelectric switch carried by said stop member, and crank means for turningsaid screws to move the V stop member, and through it, the switch to anadjusted position for engagement by the metal sheet to stop the conveing means and to initiate the o eration of t e end shear by said motorfor t e purpose speciiied.

11. A device for cutting a metal sheet into multiples, comprising an endshear, a guide projecting rearwardly from the end shear, a slidememberformed with a slot free to move along said guide, means for moving theslide; member to an. adjusted position on the uide, a stop bar carriedby the slide mem er and vertically movable through lits' slot intoY thepath of rearward movement of the metal sheet to stop it in a properposition under the end shear to sever from it a multiple of the desiredlength, and common means for operating the end shear and the stop bar.

' 12. A device for cutting a metal sheet into multiples, comprising anend shear, a guide projecting rearwardly from the end shear, a

' desired length, a motor-operated eccentric shaft for reciprocating theend shear, means movable along said guide for raising and l, is

lowering the stop bar, a cam on the eccentric shaft, and link mechanismconnected between the cam and the stop bar operating means, to raise andlower the stop bar when the end Shear is actuated by the eccentricshaft.

13. 'In a continuous, automatic machine for shearing metal sheets,motor-operated side shearing devices, a motor-operated end shearingdevice, motor-operated endless means for conveying a sheet past the sideshearing de vices to the end shearing device, an electric switchactuated by the movin sheet for stopping the conveying means, orstarting the operation of the side shearing devices and for restartingthe conveying means, and a second electric switch actuatedby the mov'ing sheet to stop the conveying means and to start the operation of theend shearing device.

14. Inl a continuous, automatic machine for shearing metal sheets,motor-,operated side shearing devices, a motor-operated end shearindevice, motor-operated endless means gor conveying a sheet pastthe sideshearing devices to and through the end shearing device, an'electricswitch actuated by the moving sheet for stopping the conveying means,for'starting the operation of the side shearing devices and forrestarting the conveying means, a second electric switch actuated by themoving side-trimmed sheet for stopping the conveying means and forstartin the operation of the end shear to trim t e leadin end of theside trimmed sheet, and anl ad]ustable electric switch actuated by theside and end trimmed sheet to stop the conveying means and to start theoperation of the end shear device to cut a multiple of the desiredlength from said sheet.

15. In a continuous, automatic machine for shearing metalv sheets,motor-operated side shearin devices, a motor-operated end shearindevice, motor-operated endless conveyors or conveying a metal sheet fromthe devices .to the end shearin vice, a switc actuated bythe moving seet,

a time relay switch actuated by the first switch for stopping theconveying means a. by-pass limit switch adapted to transfer controlofthe conveying means to the third electric switch`to restart theconveying means and an adjustable electric switch actuated by the sideand end trimmed sheet to stop the conveying means and to again start theoperation of the end shearing device to cut a multiple of thedesireddiniensions from said sheet.

16. In a device for trimming the leading ends of metal sheets and forcutting them intomultiples, a motor-operated end shear, motor-operatedendless means for conveying a metal sheet past the end shear, a fixedrearwardly projecting guide,' a slide movable along said guide, and aslow down electric switch and a stop limit electric switch carried bysaid slide for actuation by the metal sheet, traveling above, to stopthe conveying means and to start the operation of the end shear to cutfrom said sheet a section of the desired length. i

17. In an automatic machine for shearing metal sheets, shearing devicesfor trimming the side edgles of said sheets, a pair of upper caterpi oflower caterpillar conveyor chains which coact with each other to receivea sheet between them for movement in correct alinement with the shearingdevices, bottom rails upon which the inner'runs of the lower chainstravel and top rails along which the inner runs of the upper chainstravel, fixed supports for the bottom rails, fixed grooved supports forthe top rails, and springs within said grooved supports for applying adownward pressure to the top rails, for the purpose specified.

`resilient means for exerting a. downward pres- `sure upon the top railsto hold the chains down into firm engagement with the sheets.

In testimony whereof I- have hereunto set my hand this 5th day ofSeptember, 1928.

FRANK H. STREINE.

and for starting the operation of the end shear to trim the leading endof they sidetrimmed sheet, a third electric switch actuated by the endshearing device to keep the conveying means stopped during the endtrimming operation of said end shearing device,

ar conveyor chains and a pair

